SAN BERNARDINO – To say San Gorgonio’s Andy Crowley dominated Saturday evening’s San Andreas League battle with rival Cajon at Arrowhead Credit Union Park as part of the 15th Annual County Clash would be an understatement.

Crowley (3-0) went the distance in the 3-1 victory, allowing just one run on two hits and striking out eight Cowboys.

He also doubled, tripled and scored a run to help his own cause, but it was his ability to pick off four Cajon base runners that drove Cowboys coach Jon Austin crazy.

“Crowley was the difference on the mound and at the plate,” Austin said. “His move was outstanding, but we can’t afford to get guys picked off like that.”

If his performance wasn’t satisfying enough, Crowley was named the game’s MVP as the speakers fittingly played Ozzy Osbourne’s 1980 hit “Mr. Crowley,” in the background.

Lost in the magnificent performance by Crowley was Cajon’s Ruben Rios, who was able to pitch his way out of three jams to keep his team in the game. Rios threw 51/3 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits.

The Spartans (8-2, 2-0) scored first when Juan Rocha doubled in the second inning. He moved to third on a single by Andy Golding and then scored on a Cajon error.

Cajon (7-4, 1-1) tied the score in the top of the fourth when Danny Diaz singled and scored one batter later on a Rios triple.

San Gorgonio came back in the bottom of the fourth when Ricky Elias singled and scored three batters later on Golding’s single.

Rios, however, was able to get out of a bases-loaded, no-out situation with only the one Spartans run crossing the plate in the fourth.

One inning later, Crowley doubled and scored on a wild pitch to give the Spartans a 3-1 lead that he would make stand up.

“This was a great experience to play on this field, because everyone who plays this game wants to play at the professional level,” Crowley said. “I had pretty good command of all my pitches and they didn’t hurt me too badly when I missed my spots. I was thankful to my teammates for making plays behind me.”

Crowley picked off two runners in the first inning and one in the third, and by picking off a runner in the seventh he was able to keep the tying run from coming to the plate.

“We made some costly mistakes, but we’re young and we’ll definitely learn from this,” Austin said. “I was really proud of Ruben (Rios) for fighting so hard and keeping us in the game when he didn’t get much help behind him.”

Golding finished the game 2 for 2 with a walk and an RBI; Rocha had a hit, two walks and a run scored; and Elias was 1for2 with a run scored for San Gorgonio.

“I can’t say enough about Andy for what he did today and what he’s done all season,” San Gorgonio coach Bill Eatinger said. “We’ll go as far as he can take us. I’d like to see us do better with runners in scoring position, but you’ve got to give Ruben Rios credit because he battled us all game long.”

Join the Conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@scng.com.